The Nawab had made Chaturanarayan Malviya the Prime Minister of Bhopal State.
Highlights
The Nawab wanted to keep Bhopal State independent. The cabinet of Bhopal was formed in 1948. Bhopal merged with India on 29 January 1949.
Digital Desk, Bhopal (Independence Day 2024). After 200 years of struggle, India got freedom from British rule on 15 August 1947, but there were many areas which were far away from independence due to the ambitions of the then rulers. The people of these areas had to struggle for freedom even after independence. One such area was Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, which had to fight for independence for about two years after 1947.
After India’s independence, the princely states were given the right to merge with either India or Pakistan. But Bhopal’s Nawab Hamidullah Khan wanted to keep Bhopal independent, but Viceroy Mountbatten refused and he had to agree to the merger of Bhopal with India.
Cabinet was formed in 1948
The Nawab declared Bhopal state independent in 1948 and in May 1948 declared his close aide Chatur Narayan Malviya as the Prime Minister. Not only this, he also formed a cabinet. After this announcement of the Nawab, protests started in Bhopal, after which Chatur Narayan Malviya resigned from the post of Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the Nawab went on Haj in October 1948. During this time also the protests continued.
‘Merger movement’ started
In December 1948, the movement in Bhopal took a bigger form. The ‘merger movement’ for the merger of Bhopal with India was started under the leadership of leaders like Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Bhai Ratan Kumar Gupta. During this many protesters were arrested. On 23 January 1949, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma was also sent to jail for eight months.
Sardar Patel showed strictness
Amidst the ongoing protests in Bhopal, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel adopted a tough stance and sent a message to the Nawab to merge with India. But, this had no effect on the Nawab and on 29 January 1949, he dismissed the cabinet and took all the powers in his hands. The protests continued for three months in Bhopal. During this period, incidents of firing also took place.
In the end the Nawab bowed down
The demonstrations in Bhopal and the pressure of Sardar Patel forced Nawab Hamidullah Khan to surrender. After this, the Nawab signed the merger letter on 30 April 1949 and Bhopal became a part of India on 1 June 1949.
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